1 / 9

Working in Groups

Working in Groups. Acknowledgements to Coover V, Deacon E, Esser C, et al. Resource manual for a living revolution: a handbook of skills and tools for social change activists. Philadelphia: New Society, 1985. Key ideas. Describing how groups work (or don’t)

vance
Download Presentation

Working in Groups

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Working in Groups Acknowledgements to Coover V, Deacon E, Esser C, et al. Resource manual for a living revolution: a handbook of skills and tools for social change activists. Philadelphia: New Society, 1985.

  2. Key ideas • Describing how groups work (or don’t) • The functions that make up group work • Leadership and facilitation • Problems in groups • Conflict resolution

  3. Describing our own groups • Cohesiveness (shared goals & values, trust) • Climate • Pressures (sources of, management of, impact of) • Goals (short, medium and long term) • Effectiveness (internal process, external action) • Structure (roles, relationships, process rules, leadership) • Standards (expectations, sanctions, evaluation & learning) • Governance (accountability, turn-over, orientation)

  4. Functions for effective action initiate seek / give information seek / give opinion clarify elaborate coordinate develop procedures summarise reflect Functions for the group encourage express feelings relieve tension compromise facilitate communication set standards set goals interpret listen and follow Group functions • Functions for action and for the group • harmonise and mediate • test agreement • evaluate

  5. Leadership • Think ahead; know the issues; bring ideas • Clarify feelings; acknowledge people’s feelings and help to clarify how feelings and attitudes are shaping discussion • Sense, understand and help to manage the tensions and dynamics • Bring back to big picture (and how it shapes our feelings) • Summarise discussion, articulate emerging themes • Articulate the issues for consideration; help to order the discussion / decision process • Encourage others to develop leadership skills

  6. Decision making in groups • Voting • Consensus • Power • Others?

  7. Facilitation • Environment and resources • Clarify goals and tasks • Manage the agenda • Clarify process for consideration and decision • Articulate uncertainties • Affirm and appreciate • Ensure involvement and commitment • Maintain energy and enthusiasm • Evaluation • Finalisation

  8. Blocking Dominating Special-interest pleading Attention-seeking Non-participating Jumping around Low morale Lack of focus Hurt feelings Nagging Bad vibes Distracting Problems in groups

  9. Conflict resolution • Prevention • Clarify and make explicit the issues (and the feelings) • Affirm the feelings; separate the issues • Active listening and ‘I statements’ • Others

More Related